History

It all began in a church parish house in Belmont, Massachusetts in 1971, when a group of Armenian educators, professionals and business leaders began collecting Armenian books and artifacts. The collection grew steadily and, in 1985, the Armenian Museum of America opened its doors to the public for the first time. The Museum rented the basement of The First Armenian Church of Belmont, Massachusetts, where it operated for several years, independently from the Church.

After outgrowing the rented space, the Armenian Museum of America purchased and renovated its present building in 1988. A former bank designed by renowned architect Ben Thompson, it is a modern, four-story brick and glass building in the heart of Watertown, Massachusetts, the center of one of America’s largest Armenian communities.

2007

Six inscribed artifacts from ALMA’s Bedoukian and Karabian Collections were loaned to the galleries of the Vieille Charite in Marseille, France, to be displayed during the exhibition “Armenie: La Magie de l’Ecrit,” part of the government-sponsored “”ear of Armenia” in France

Installation of ALMA’s “Who Are the Armenians” Exhibition, sponsored by the late Ann Nahigian, former ALMA Trustee

Visit by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II

2006

A Baptismal Dove and a 19th century Silver Chrysmatorium (from ALMA’s Bedoukian collection) was loaned to be exhibited at the Center Against Expulsion in Berlin, Germany